I
was the last to arrive at Dummy's birthday party. Everyone was sitting stiffly
around the table in the school shelter. Nobody was speaking.

I went straight up to
Mr Pearce. His much-worn clothes were too tight round the waist and under the
arms. He seemed ill at ease.

‘Happy birthday,
Daniel,’ I said.

‘Arrgh, thank'ee
kindly,’ he replied. He showed his misshapen teeth through a matted beard in
what was more a grimace than a smile.

‘What's the matter
Daniel? Aren't they looking after you properly?’

‘Reckon as 'ow it's
more'n a little whiles since ol' Dan'l 'ad a party fer 'is birthday. Reckon as
'ow 'ee's roight thankful. There be a fine cake with candles wot Miss Winnifred
gave and Miss Molly's biscuits an' all.’‘You could look a bit
happier about it,’ I said.

‘Me neither,’ said
Katy.‘You are
going to help then, Miss Hangar?’ said Jenno.

‘Yes Jenno, er—
Jean,’ said Miss Hangar. ‘I'll do what I can; but you know, there's really very
little I can do now concerning the
allotments. The project is already approved and far advanced.

‘As for The Old
Vicarage, it's a decision for the Church and the vicar. Any interference by the
school would only arouse resentment. But I can certainly help Mr Pearce to
learn to read and write. That way he could become independent of support from
the Parish.’

‘And not go into a
home!’ exclaimed Molly. She stuffed her knuckles into her mouth and looked
horrified towards Daniel.

‘Don't ye be a-fazed
none, Miss Molly,’ said Daniel gently. ‘Ol' Dan'l baint be deaf; 'ee knows
roight well wot people say. 'Ee bain't be such a dummy as 'ow they think.’

An embarrassed
silence fell. It was broken by Winnifred: ‘I think it's about time we lit the
candles. Who's got some matches?’

‘I'll ask my mum,’
said Leta. ‘Wait a tic and I'll nip indoors and get some.’ She ran into the
school caretaker's house and emerged a moment later rattling a box of matches. ‘We didn't know how
many candles to put on, but in any case, Hibberd's store only had one box—it's
the war you know—so we put them all on. There are twenty.’